U16Bs start season with emphatic win at Camberley

Camberley U16s 0 v Maidenhead U16Bs 46

Sunday 27th September 2009

Camberley RFC’s beautifully manicured Watchetts Recreation Ground was bathed in scorching sunshine for this friendly opener.  The stately oaks around the clubhouse produce a crunching carpet of acorns underfoot and no doubt explain the club’s “Squirrels” nickname.

To modify the old cliché, it might be said that the sun helped make this a game of three thirds.

In the first 25 minute section, Maids dominated every area of play and racked up 29 unanswered points against a side who had been unable to field an U15 team last season for lack of players, and looked it.  Daniel Andrews-Jones scored wide on the right after an extended encampment on the home tryline.  Greg McHugh stood up his opposite winger, skinned him on the outside and scored wide on the left.  Tom Allen crashed over after powerful pick and drives by himself, Josh Edney and Alex McCulloch had scattered the defence.  DAJ scored a second, stepping inside and through weak tackles and then Tom Allen picked up at half way and simply powered all the way to the tryline.  With Matt Becksmith converting the fourth of the five tries, the Camberley squirrels looked skinned and ready to roast. 

However, a number of changes for the second period brought more energy and commitment to the Camberley forward game, and signs of drive from their backs as well.  Maids were up to the challenge, however, and defended strongly without losing their organisation.  Sure enough the chances began to come for Maids again and a great chase of a Shiv Khindria punt into the 22 saw Daniel Shipton side foot a perfect through ball ahead for Matt Becksmith to dive on in-goal.  A few minutes of even but scrappy play ended when Maids won a scrum against the head and moved the ball quickly left.  Khindria broke inside and passed to Becksmith in support.  Matt made ground and then released Scott Gillan down the left wing.  Scott’s chipped kick inside found Chris Dow racing up and able to fall on his own dribble kick under the posts.  Becksmith converted.  A third kicking try finished the middle period.  Fraser Brooks chased deep into the home 22 but was stepped by the covering fullback.  Not giving up, Fraser chased back, dragged his man down, ripped out the ball and ran away to score with great brio.

After the hectic handling of the first, and the destructive kicking of the second, the third period was both scoreless and without much incident.  DAJ and McHugh came closest to scoring for Maids, and Camberley threatened the line without ever finding the final pass or thrust.  The home side’s influential half backs were both sidelined with injuries and Maids rang the changes to give everyone good game time.  The heat told on both sides and energy levels were much reduced.

A good run out for Maids' U16B, in fact a convincing win with good progress shown by a number of established players, others returning from injury, and confident debuts by new recruits. 

Squad: Hull, Edney, Tolan, Keir, McCulloch, Allen, Dolan, Cronbach, Kaye, Scolari, Evans, Dow, Carn, Hibberdine, Khindria, Brooks, Andrews-Jones, Becksmith, Shipton, McHugh, Gillan, McCarthy